Photo courtesy Valley Regional Transit

BOISE - With gas prices pushing toward $3 dollars, many drivers are doing anything they can to ease the pain – including taking the bus.

Many commuters are turning in their keys for a chance at saving some green.

Mornings are better now for some riders, who are by-passing the traffic and parking grind and taking the bus...

“Some ride because they want to save gas cause gas prices are too high, others ride because they don't have a car,” Chiniqua Kinlaw said. “Others ride cause it's easier with the traffic and not to worry about your car.”

Kinlaw started riding because her car got stolen but now with her car back – she’s still riding the bus.

From July to October of last year, bus rider ship went up 60 percent, from 5000 riders each month to 8000 riders each month.

“We are seeing increasing in rider ship, especially on our inner county routes,” Kelli Fairless with Valley Regional Transit said. “ Once they're on the bus, because it's an express, it's basically, it's on the freeway it's traveling the same speed as the other vehicles.”

The express route from Nampa to Downtown Boise is one of Valley Ride’s most popular services

“But down on pollution, traffic, and as the Treasure Valley is growing, I think it's something we need," rider Eric Bry said. "I think definitely you'll see an increase due to the growth in the Treasure Valley.”

A monthly pass for the Intercounty route costs $50 for adults, and $33 for students.